Bishop

by Gabelman, Teresa

  “Stop that shit!” came over the intercom. “If I can’t be with my woman, then by fuck you can’t be with yours.” Sid’s voice echoed around them.

  “Jesus!” Bishop shook his head and flipped the camera off. Viktor stood laughing by his bike as Bishop headed his way. “I need a new fucking job.”

  Climbing on his bike, he glanced up to see Bonnie with a half-grin on her face. With a wave, she turned and went back into the compound, but not before she peeked a look over her shoulder at him.

  “She’s up to something,” Viktor said over the roaring of his bike. “I’d know that look anywhere.”

  Yep, he was going to go in-fucking-sane. “Shit!” He pulled out his phone, sent a text, then put it in his back pocket. With a woman like Bonnie, he’d always need a back-up plan.

  Chapter 26

  Bonnie headed back into the compound, her thoughts a little jumbled. She was confused about her relationship with Bishop. Sure, she’d let him be her first. He was also protective… though, he was a Warrior, and wasn’t that what they did—protect? Yeah, she was a little confused.

  “So, what kind of trouble are we getting into?” Raven asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.

  After glancing around to make sure they were alone, she walked closer to Raven. “I really need to go somewhere so I can work on my magic. And I might need some volunteers.” Bonnie frowned, then shook her head. “No, scratch the volunteers. I think I need to practice first.”

  “Are you sure?” Raven looked disappointed. “I know some real assholes I can call.”

  A laugh burst out of Bonnie before she sobered and sighed. “Well, keep them in mind ’cause I’m going to need some, and soon.” She peered toward Sloan’s office, making sure she had the all clear. Looking back at Raven, she said, “You ever transport?”

  “I refuse to ride on a broomstick.” Raven’s eyes narrowed. “I like you, but don’t like you that much. My bike is right outside.”

  “Yeah, well, my field is too far for the bike.” Bonnie frowned. “And that’s so cliché. Witches do not ride on broomsticks, though that would be awesome. I hate transporting.”

  “You need a field? I got a field.” Raven snorted, walking toward the door. “Come on.”

  Once outside, standing by Raven’s bike, Bonnie had second thoughts. “This might not be a good idea. I’m sure my jackass of a father has people everywhere, and there’s no doubt they will be able to feel the magic I’m going to be releasing.”

  “Good.” Raven shrugged her shoulder. “Saves us time from having to find the piece of shit. Let him wonder what in the hell is going on. I figure he probably thinks you’re helping Kira, and that’s exactly what we want him to think.”

  Raven had a point, though Bonnie really hoped Orjyll didn’t know she now had her mother’s powers. When dealing with the asshole, it was best to come at him with a surprise. It threw him, which was how he made mistakes. She’d seen that firsthand. Bonnie wasn’t naïve enough to think this was the case, though. He had too many people working with him. They would be foolish to underestimate him. That was something else she had seen. While he didn’t have his full power, Orjyll was still very dangerous. Even though Bonnie was so ready for this battle to be over—one way or another—she wanted to make damn sure she was ready to take on whatever he had to throw at her.

  “True,” Bonnie agreed after a beat, getting on the bike. She then spoke her thoughts aloud. “I just need to make sure I’m ready.”

  Raven glanced at her from over her shoulder. “Bonnie, you’re ready. You’ve been ready since the day that fucker killed your mother. You know it, I know it, and fuck anyone else who has doubts. Plus, you got some badass motherfuckers who’ve got your back. Don’t forget that.”

  Bonnie stared at Raven for a few seconds before her smile grew. “Damn, I think I got a girl crush.” Never having had backup before, Bonnie had a hard time knowing how to accept it, so of course, she went to what was reliable in her life… jokes. Then again, she kinda did have a girl crush going, but dammit, she wished it wasn’t so hard for her to accept this new idea of someone actually on her side. A “ride or die” person. Her mind went to Bishop. It felt good, really good, but it also scared the shit out of her. She’d been wrong about things in her past concerning people, so her trust level was low, almost nonexistent, but she was learning to appreciate not being alone.

  “Then you’ve got good taste, bitch.” Raven grinned and started her bike. “Now, hold on to your ass ’cause I’m taking you on one hell of a ride.”

  “Shit.” Bonnie grabbed on to Raven as they flew out of the parking lot. Bonnie didn’t feel fear once, even when Raven ran a red light, and they almost got smashed by a truck. She realized real quick she better have her magic ready because Raven was not lying about taking her on a hell of a ride. She just needed a little reassurance it wasn’t going to be a ride to hell.

  Hitting a dirt road, they rode at a much slower pace. The road narrowed to a trail before disappearing into some trees. They continued up and down paths until they rode out into a clearing. Raven shut off her bike.

  “Will this do?” Raven got off, looking around. “I do some target practice here and never got any complaints. No one around to complain.”

  “It’s perfect.” Bonnie gazed around the area, her eyes flicking up to the sky. It looked like snow. The air was chilly with a slight breeze brushing by, leaving goose bumps in their wake. Quickly, she changed her clothes using her magic. Dressed in jeans, boots, and hoodie with the words Hocus Pocus, I Need Tequila To Focus, she was much warmer.

  “Nice shirt.” Raven leaned against her bike and smirked.

  “Thank you. It’s one of my favorites.” Bonnie nodded, glancing back at Raven. “You’re kinda making me self-conscious.”

  “Tough,” Raven replied without missing a beat.

  Rolling her eyes, Bonnie turned back around and was a little at a loss. She always used spells for most of her magic, but from what she understood from her mother’s writings and hearsay, her mother could make things happen without the spells. Well, she was her mother’s daughter, so she needed to remove her head from her ass and get busy. Time was wasting, and Orjyll was becoming eviler by the minute, the fuckwad.

  With a sigh, she realized she really needed to be more ladylike. Her thoughts and language were horrid, but then again, when had that ever bothered her? It got her point across and if somebody didn’t like it, then they could fu—

  “Not impressed,” Raven called out behind her, cutting off her thoughts. “I’m bored.”

  Eyes narrowing over her shoulder, she grinned when the bike rolled quickly from behind Raven, sending her stumbling backward. No spell. Just a thought. Holy shit, she was going to like this. Cocking her eyebrow, Bonnie grinned. “Still bored?”

  * * *

  Bishop jumped through the window, his boots pounding the ground as he chased the son of a bitch. Damn, he was fast and zigzagged like a crazy man. His rage propelled him forward. Blood ran into his eyes from the large gash on his forehead, but he swiped it away without missing a beat. The fucker had surprised him with a crowbar as Bishop came out of the basement.

  The asshole kept looking over his shoulder, checking to see if Bishop was still behind him. Suddenly, the crowbar that bastard had hit him with came sailing toward him. Bishop went to his knees, sliding under it, then back on his feet in a fluid motion. He swore if he caught this fucker, he was going to torture his ass for a while before he took him back for questioning.

  “Give up, asshole.” Bishop leaped over a downed tree. “You stop now, I’ll let you live.”

  “Getting tired, old man?” the guy yelled as he jumped a creek, Bishop following close behind.

  Seeing a thick broken limb, Bishop swooped it up in a run, glad it was thick and heavy. Without missing a beat, he whipped it at the man’s legs, sending him to the ground. Bishop was on him within seconds of him going down. They rolled, throwing punches, but Bishop was too much for him
. The guy was fast, but he couldn’t fight like Bishop, not even close.

  “How does it feel to get your ass beat by an old man?” Bishop said, then jerked him to his feet. “Huh?”

  “Listen, I didn’t do that back there.” The man looked behind Bishop from where they came from. “All I was to do was keep guard. I didn’t even go down in that basement.”

  “Then how do you know to deny anything that was in the basement?” Bishop growled, putting silver handcuffs on him. “Guess you think I’m old and stupid?”

  The not-so-tough guy now tried to plead his case, “Dude, I just needed some money.”

  “Plenty of legit jobs out there, even for a vampire,” Bishop said, walking him through the creek. “Orjyll isn’t legit.”

  “But the pay is good.” He’d admitted to working for Orjyll, which was what Bishop wanted to know. “And it’s cash. All I had to do is guard. That’s it.”

  “And you fucked that up,” Bishop said, scanning the area to make sure no one was lying in wait for them. He knew Viktor had called in reinforcements when he’d gone after this asshole. “What’s your name?” He was young and probably turned before his twenty-first birthday.

  “Joe,” he finally said after a few minutes of probably wondering if he should even be talking to Bishop or not.

  “Well, Joe, you’re going to be confronted by some scary-ass Warriors in a few minutes,” Bishop said, figuring if he could get him to talk before the others scared the shit out of him, that would be best. “Your attitude and answering questions without being a smartass is going to determine whether you live or die.”

  “Didn’t think the VC could do that to people. They have rules.” Joe tried to look over his shoulder at Bishop, but Bishop gave him a shove to keep him going.

  “Oh, we do have rules. Our rules.” Bishop snorted, then glanced at the darkening sky as snow began to fall. “So, you want to go ahead and fill me in on what happened in that basement?”

  “I don’t know, man,” Joe said, shaking his head. “I never went down there. I swear it. Whatever is down there has nothing to do with me.”

  Bishop was done. He was pissed and he was done. Other Warriors were pulling in, but Bishop walked past them, his large hand on the back of Joe’s neck as he led him past everyone. Pushing Joe through the door, he guided him toward the basement steps. He thought about pushing him down the steps but didn’t. Nice guy? Fuck no. He wanted answers, and if the fucker broke his neck, they wouldn’t get any.

  The smell of death hit him as soon as they entered the yard, but as they started down the staircase, it was so rank he almost gagged. Bishop had smelled death before, many times, but this was different somehow.

  They rounded the corner where Viktor and Sloan stood among cages that were stacked on top of each other. Bishop’s eyes scanned the carnage. Sickness and complete rage made him squeeze the back of Joe’s neck to the point he cried out.

  “Oh God,” Joe cried out and gagged, then tried to look away, but Bishop refused to let him.

  “God is nowhere in this basement,” Bishop growled, then jerked his head back around. “Look, you son of a bitch. I don’t even want you to blink.” Bishop watched the man’s reaction, and either the guy was a highly skilled actor or was telling the truth and really hadn’t known what was in the basement.

  Bishop continued to grip his neck so Joe couldn’t look away again, but his eyes also scanned the area. Not one cage was empty. Each had a vampire inside—all dead by a silver bullet gunshot wound to the forehead. Women, men, and kids… well, teenagers, but kids to Bishop. The youngest looked to be about sixteen. They were all starved. Their gaunt features and sunken eyes told that story.

  “I want to know who did this,” Bishop hissed as he pushed Joe toward one of the cages that held a younger vampire.

  Suddenly, Joe stiffened, his handcuffed hands trying to get into his pocket as he started twisting.

  “What are you doing?” Bishop growled, then looked into his blank eyes. Joe was no longer there. Joe began to thrash as if in a panic to get into his own pocket. Bishop heard his wrist crack. He was breaking his own bones just to try to free himself. “Fuck!”

  Viktor rushed over with Sloan, and they subdued the man enough for Bishop to reach into his pocket. He pulled out a small square plastic liquid-filled packet. It looked like a Tide POD. Viktor quickly checked his other pockets.

  “That’s the shit others who’ve been caught have taken.” Sloan bent to look at the pod Bishop tossed on the ground. “But he’s a vampire. I only remember humans doing this. Can that shit take one of us down?”

  Bishop glanced at Viktor, who was looking at him. “Looks like Orjyll has a new game.” Viktor cocked his eyebrow.

  “Get Bonnie here, now,” Sloan ordered Sid, who’d entered the room with a curse of rage as he took in the scene.

  “On it,” Sid said, then disappeared back up the steps.

  Not wanting to involve her in this, Bishop knew he had to think of more than himself. He stood looking down at Joe, who still thrashed around trying to get to that pod. Viktor was right. Things were changing, and they’d better make damn sure they were on the winning team.

  Chapter 27

  Bonnie was wearing herself out, but she was in awe of what she was able to actually do. And yet, she respected her mother’s power, keeping control at all times. Okay, a few times things got a little crazy… like when the tree she’d uprooted had headed straight toward them. Yeah, Raven wasn’t too happy about that. That woman could cuss.

  Tired and hungry, she decided it was time to quit. She felt confident to this point that she could control herself and not take out the good guys, but she needed a little more practice. The thing about magic was once you lost control, you lost yourself in the magic, and it could overtake you in a matter of seconds. Power was heady, meaning once you tasted it, you wanted more and more and even more. Bonnie had seen many good witches and warlocks become so obsessed with power that they lost themselves to the dark side. She refused to be one of those people. Never would she disrespect her mother or herself in that way.

  She wanted to try one more thing before they left, though. Closing her eyes, she focused on the elements. Fire she could do. Rain was iffy; she got a sprinkle with a little thunder and a poof of lightning, but next she wanted to try wind. She had done all the elements before, but with a spell. So far, anything she had tried was with just a thought. Feeling a breeze pick up, she opened her eyes to see the trees across the field sway in a gentle motion. Nothing crazy. Again, she closed her eyes and focused harder.

  The only sound was the creaking of bare frozen tree limbs and… “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X.

  “What in the hell?” Her eyes popped open. She turned to see Raven with her gun out, rushing toward her.

  “Shit!” a male voice sounded, but there was no one there.

  “Steve?” Bonnie frowned, searching the area. Raven stopped before her with her gun drawn.

  “I’m going to start shooting at air,” Raven warned, her tone hard.

  Steve appeared with his hands outstretched. “Whoa.” Steve held his phone in one hand, the song still playing. A moment later, it went quiet. “Dammit, put the gun away. Sorry, thought this fucking thing was on silent.”

  “What are you doing here being all invisible and shit?” Bonnie moved Raven’s pointed gun away from Steve.

  “Good way to die.” Raven put her gun away.

  “Yeah, well, Bishop wanted me to follow you,” Steve blurted, then frowned. “Damn, I just dropped him in it, didn’t I? Ah, fuck it. He figured you guys were up to something and wanted me to follow you to make sure you were okay.”

  “So he doesn’t think I can handle the job and sent you?” Raven sounded offended and looked pissed, extremely pissed.

  “Looks that way, but you didn’t hear that from me. I’ll lie my ass off,” Steve said, then looked over their heads, his eyes growing wide. “Is that a tornado?”

  “What?!” Bonnie spu
n, her eyes as wide as Steve’s. “Uh-oh.”

  Sure enough, there was a small funnel heading their way, blowing anything and everything out of its path.

  “What in the hell do you mean, uh-oh?” Raven backed up, taking Bonnie with her. “Did you do that?”

  “Maybe.” Bonnie stumbled, but Steve and Raven caught her. Okay, dammit, she needed to focus.

  “You think you can maybe stop it?” Raven yelled over the roaring.

  Closing her eyes, Bonnie tried to focus, but Steve and Raven were distracting her with their “Fucks” and “Oh shits.” Okay, she could do this. She could feel the strength of the wind pushing her back. Raven and Steve both held on to her while trying to keep their footing. If she didn’t stop this thing, which seemed to be growing in strength, innocent people could be hurt, even worse, be killed all because she screwed up and lost focus. This was definitely a learning experience on what not to do when facing asswipe and his army of witches and vampires. Don’t be distracted.

  “Bonnie!” Raven shouted, and Bonnie peeked to see the funnel growing and looking very angry. Yeah, the twisting thing looked pissed off and heading straight toward them. Bonnie buckled down. She could do this. Feeling something burn in her chest and deep inside her soul, she pictured the funnel shrinking, becoming smaller and smaller. She continued to do this until finally, the wind stopped pushing against her.

  Opening her eyes, she was relieved to see the funnel disperse and disappear into the sky. Her legs buckled, but Steve caught her.

  They all stared out at the now empty field without saying a word.

  “What in the hell are you looking at?” another male voice called out from behind them.

  They all jumped, turning around, and screaming—Steve screaming the loudest.

  “Fuck!” Steve shouted, his hand on his chest. “Fuck! Man, you scared the shit out of me. Did you see that?”